Vodafone Portugal to launch IPTV in Q3 2009

Vodafone Portugal is likely to launch an IPTV service in the third quarter of this year, according to company president, AntÃ³nio Carrapatoso.

Speaking on the margins of a debate organized by the Portuguese Association for the Development of Communications in Lisbon, he said that the investment will not be very high â€“ up to E20 million in the first phase â€“ and that annual growth is expected to be around 8 per cent. Negotiations are currently underway with content suppliers.

Carrapatoso said the IPTV platform would be based on the ADSL network, opening the door for "future investments in fibre optic or a wholesale offer of a passive fibre network". Vodafone favours both joint investments in fibre with Sonaecom and/or with other operators as well as the existence of a single passive network, shared by all operators, on which they would offer services at a later date.